Green Infrastructure: Traditional Approaches
Green infrastructure is the system of land and vegetation comprising a community’s ecosystem and which can be used to help offset negative environmental impacts of human habitation, for example stormwater runoff and urban heat island effect. The primary types of green infrastructure are outlined below.
PASSIVE & ACTIVE RECREATIONAL SPACES
Parks - Geographic areas maintained in their natural state or as recreation and ornamental spaces within communities, which allow use by the public.
Community Gardens - Areas that may be formally designed or informally laid out into garden plots that typically allow for the cultivation of fresh fruits and vegetables by community members or members of an organization that supports the garden.
Botanical Gardens - Typically areas of formal landscape design that cultivate a variety of plants for scientific, educational, or ornamental purposes.
Trails - Linear corridors often used for recreation and/ or alternative transportation, which may include hard and soft surfaces.
Greenways - A linear open space along a corridor (such as floodplain) that typically includes walking and/ or biking paths, which may include hard or soft surfaces.
Right-of-Way Corridors - Open space that runs with transportation or utility networks, or required buffers or setback from lakes and other water bodies.
HABITAT AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES
Groundwater Recharge Districts - Areas where soils and other topographical features are suitable for filtration of water to replenish underground aquifers.
Watershed Protection Districts - Typically networks of streams, creeks, rivers and other hydrological features that are organized geographically into drainage basins.
Endangered Species Habitats - Environments that are uniquely suited to meet the biological needs of those species threatened by diminishing numbers and potential extinction.
Riparian Buffers - Areas adjacent to streams, creeks, and rivers which protect water quality by preventing the infiltration of pollutants into the water.
Wetlands and Floodplains - Areas adjacent to water bodies that typically are regularly inundated by overflow of water or remain saturated; as a result, floodplains and wetlands foster unique ecosystems for organisms that thrive in such environments.
WORKING LANDSCAPES
Farms and Agricultural Lands - Typically expanses of arable lands with suitable soil, topography and climate for the cultivation of fruits, grains, vegetables, livestock and other produce essential to the food chain for humans and domesticated animals.
Community Supported Agriculture - Organizations or networks that enable consumers to buy produce or value-added agricultural products directly from farmers, typically by providing shares or subscriptions, thus providing greater access to fresh produce for the consumer and guaranteed income to the producer.
Forests and Timber Tracts - Typically expanses of lands that are primarily wooded; they provide habitat for wild animals and are not considered to be arable land suitable for cultivation – though this can be distinguished from managed timber tracts that are planted and managed for the purpose of harvesting the trees for commercial production.
Grassland and Pasture Land - Typically expanses of lands that are primarily open and devoid of shrubs or trees; they are often areas suited to the cultivation of livestock that depend upon grazing.
HISTORIC AND CULTURAL RESOURCES
Historic Resources - Typically buildings, structures and landscapes that are typically over 50 years old and are associated with a famous individual or event, or represent a specific architectural and/ or design trend. This can also include archaeological resources.
Cultural Landscapes - Typically include elements of communities that may be significant to a particular social culture, ethnic identity, or artistic movement, but may not necessarily be historic in nature.
